Physocarpus plant named ‘Podaras 2’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Physocarpus  plant named ‘Podaras 2’, characterized by its compact and upright plant habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy habit; dark green-colored leaves; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Physocarpus opulifolius.

Cultivar denomination: ‘PODARAS 2’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPhysocarpus plant, botanically known as Physocarpus opulifolius andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Podaras 2’.

The new Physocarpus plant is a product of a controlled breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Ithaca, N.Y. The objective of the breedingprogram is to create new compact Physocarpus plants with unique foliagecolors, types and textures.

The new Physocarpus plant originated from an open-pollination on May 10,2006 of an unnamed seedling selection of Physocarpus opulifolius, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection ofPhysocarpus opulifolius, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newPhysocarpus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor in August,2008 as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the statedopen-pollination in a controlled environment in Ithaca, N.Y.

Asexual reproduction of the new Physocarpus plant by cuttings in acontrolled environment in West Chicago, Ill. since February, 2009 hasshown that the unique features of this new Physocarpus plant are stableand reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexualreproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Physocarpus have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Podaras 2’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Podaras 2’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofPhysocarpus:

-   -   1. Compact and upright plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy habit.    -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Physocarpus can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Physocarpus differ from plants ofthe female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Physocarpus are more compact than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Physocarpus and the female parent selection        differ in leaf color as plants of the female parent selection        have bronze-colored leaves.

Plants of the new Physocarpus can be compared to plants of thePhysocarpus opulifolius ‘Diablo’, not patented. In side-by-sidecomparisons, plants of the new Physocarpus differed from plants of‘Diablo’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Physocarpus were shorter than plants of        ‘Diablo’.    -   2. Plants of the new Physocarpus and ‘Diablo’ differed in leaf        color as plants of ‘Diablo’ had dark burgundy-colored leaves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Physocarpus plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Physocarpus plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical plant of ‘Podaras 2’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of atypical plant of ‘Podaras 2 ’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the spring and summer inone-gallon containers in an outdoor nursery in Abbotsford, BritishColumbia, Canada and under commercial practice. Plants were six monthsold when the photographs and description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Podaras 2’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed seedling selection of            Physocarpus opulifolius, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Physocarpus            opulifolius, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots plant.—About two weeks at            temperatures of 18° C. to 24° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About three weeks at            temperatures of 18° C. to 24° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About three to four            weeks at temperatures of 18° C. to 24° C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous, fine; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial shrub; compact and            upright plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with about three            lateral branches develop per plant; pinching enhances            lateral branch development.        -   Plant height.—About 22.5 cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 16 cm by 19 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 19.7 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 3 cm.        -   Internode length.—About 3.4 cm.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Color.—Close to 187A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.        -   Length.—About 6.8 cm.        -   Width.—About 6.4 cm.        -   Shape.—Somewhat deltoid with three lobes; maple leaf-shaped.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Margin.—Crenate and serrate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous; rugose.        -   Venation pattern.—Palmate and pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Darker than 147A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A; venation,            close to 148A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 148A; venation, close to 147C.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper surface: Close to N199B. Color, lower surface: Close            to 199B.-   Flower description: Flower initiation and development has not been    observed on plants of the new Physocarpus.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Physocarpus have been observed    to have good garden performance.-   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Physocarpus have not    been observed to resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Physocarpus.

1. A new and distinct Physocarpus plant named ‘Podaras 2’ as illustratedand described.